OYSTER CULTURE IN FRANCE. 593 



demanded that the introduction of these oysters into our 

 waters should be absolutely prohibited, and in the beginning 

 of 1878 the minister directed an inquiry into the matter. 



" It was ascertained that the danger apprehended was 

 not serious. It is more than twenty years since enormous 

 quantities of Portuguese oysters were introduced into the 

 basin of Arcachon, which came either directly from the 

 mouth of the Tagus, or from the Bay of Corogne, or from 

 England, or the embouchure of the Gironde. Well, with 



O 



perhaps the exception of one or two years it has been 

 remarked that the reproduction of Portuguese oysters has 

 been but trifling. The collectors detached this year may 

 be said practically to have had none on them ; and I have 

 had much trouble in finding a few specimens on the reserved 

 beds." 



M. Lhopital attributes this failure in the reproduction 

 of the Portuguese oyster in the basin of Arcachon to the 

 purity of the waters and the absence of mud. 



I am very much disposed to accept the explanation 

 given by the Commissary of Marine. It is, in fact, to be 

 remarked, that, wherever the Portuguese oyster is seen to 

 propagate rapidly, there the presence of mud will be found 

 in a state of suspension in the water. 



Still, M. le Ministre, it seems to me that the oyster 

 cultivators of Arcachon should take some precautions, and 

 watch attentively what is going on in their pares. A change 

 in the currents would quite suffice to load the waters with 

 mud, and cover the collectors with the spat of the 

 Portuguese oysters. 



I am not of opinion, however, that the State should 

 interfere in this question otherwise than by giving advice. 



